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Cannoli dip is the best part of the cannoli! Fluffy ricotta and mascarpone cheese get sweetened and whipped with vanilla and chocolate chips, recreating the creamy filling in the classic Italian dessert. This dip is ready in minutes!
For another sweet no-bake dessert, try this sprinkle-filled cake batter dip and this chocolatey brownie batter dip, too.
This cannoli dip is our latest get-together obsession. It’s a thick and fluffy dessert dip that tastes just like cannoli filling, with whipped mascarpone and ricotta cheese studded with mini chocolate chips. The flavors are super creamy and just sweet enough, perfect for dipping everything from chocolate chip cookies to fruit.
What Makes This the Best Cannoli Dip Recipe
- It’s ready in minutes. This creamy cannoli dip recipe comes together in 15 minutes, and it’s ready to serve right away.
- You need only 5 ingredients. I keep things simple with a handful of easy ingredients that make this dip extra rich, silky, and flavorful.
- Authentic cannoli flavor. If you love the filling in a bakery cannoli, you’ll love this dip! I use a combination of ricotta and mascarpone cheese and the flavors are sweet, tangy, and creamy, rounded out with vanilla and chocolate chips.
Dip Ingredients
Traditional cannolis are filled with a mixture of ricotta cheese and powdered sugar. While ricotta is the classic choice, I love the richness of mascarpone, so I use both in my cannoli dip! Below are some extra notes on the ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable list.
- Ricotta Cheese – Ricotta is a soft Italian whey cheese with a creamy, mild flavor. Most ricotta comes packaged in water and should be drained first. I’ll show you how to do it further in the post.
- Mascarpone Cheese – Mascarpone is a type of fresh Italian cream cheese. It’s a bit different than American cream cheese, but you can substitute it in a pinch, see below.
- Powdered Sugar – Also called confectioner’s sugar. Powdered sugar makes a smooth dip that isn’t grainy. If you only have granulated sugar in the pantry, you can blitz it in a food processor until it’s a fine powder.
- Vanilla – I recommend real vanilla extract and not artificial vanilla. You can also add a little cinnamon to this dip for more flavor.
- Chocolate Chips – Mini chocolate chips or regular. You can also use shaved or finely chopped chocolate.
Can I Use Cream Cheese Instead of Mascarpone?
Yes! Cream cheese works well as a substitute for mascarpone in this dip. If you can, I recommend mixing in ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream per 8 ounces of cream cheese to lighten the texture.
How to Drain Ricotta Cheese
You’ll want to drain the ricotta cheese to avoid a watery cannoli dip. I like to do this overnight. To drain the cheese:
- Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and line the sieve with cheesecloth (if you don’t have cheesecloth, a damp paper towel makes a good substitute).
- Add the ricotta, cover with plastic wrap, and place it into the fridge for 8 hours or so.
Your ricotta will be drained and ready to use the next day. In a pinch, you can also press the ricotta through the sieve to strain out as much liquid as possible, for a thicker dip.
How to Make Cannoli Dip
This cannoli dip couldn’t be easier to make. I love that I can mix this up before parties in 15 minutes or less. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card for the printable instructions.
